No longer just a place to sleep, many of Canada’s leading hotels curate distinctive experiences that immerse travelers in the local environment.
From specialized tasting trails to once-in-a-lifetime helicopter tours, these properties redefine what it means to “stay” in a destination. Here’s how to make these extraordinary adventures happen, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and everywhere in between.
Newfoundland Culture and More at Fogo Island Inn
Named to the 2025 Forbes Travel Guide Edge List of luxury adventure properties, Fogo Island Inn wants its guests to connect with Newfoundland culture. And this remote island lodging does just that by offering a variety of experiences that highlight the distinctive lifestyle, food, music and stories of this Atlantic Canadian region.
You might meet Fogo Islanders at a shed party (basically a pop-up pub) for a night of music or attend a community storytelling event. Learn to row a traditional wooden boat known as a punt or go trout fishing in one of the island’s ponds. Enjoy a classic “boil-up” lunch, learn to make jam from island berries or join your adventure guide for “Fire Under the Stars,” an evening campfire and singalong. Explore the wilderness around the inn, and you might even spy caribou grazing along the coast.
Tour By Air or Sea from the Muir Hotel
Set on the Halifax waterfront, Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Muir, A Luxury Collection Hotel is ideally situated for visiting the museums and other seaside attractions of Nova Scotia’s capital city.
To venture further afield, consider one of these experiences that lets you explore by sea or air. Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat. Or book an unforgettable helicopter tour to the remote sands of Nova Scotia’s Sable Island National Park Reserve, known for having the world’s largest breeding colony of gray seals and more than 500 stocky wild horses.
See the City and Beyond from Four Seasons Hotel Montreal
Four-Star Four Seasons Hotel Montreal created personalized journeys of the chic city and the surrounding region. Try a private tour that samples the best of the Jean-Talon or Atwater markets, or a guided walk among the stellar street art in the Plateau and Mile End districts. To see the city from above, reserve a helicopter tour that will whisk you past Montreal’s landmarks or arrange a romantic hot-air balloon experience at either sunrise or sunset.
To explore beyond the city limits, hotel staff can arrange a day of outdoor adventure at nearby ski resort Mont-Tremblant, a one-day excursion to historic Quebec City or a private day trip to Ottawa, Canada’s national capital.
Not that you need to leave the hotel for a special experience. Reserve a seat at the Chef’s Counter at Marcus Restaurant + Terrace, where executive chef Jason Morris will craft a distinctive multi-course dinner. Or unwind with a treatment at Guerlain Spa, Montreal’s only wellness facility to earn a Five-Star rating.
On the Farm at The Bruce
Stratford, Ontario, may be best known for the Stratford Festival, an annual event featuring Shakespeare plays as well as other classic and contemporary works performed on stages around town. But this bucolic region, a two-hour drive west of Toronto, is also a fertile agricultural area. Guests at The Bruce Hotel, which is set in a grand country manor, can join a food-focused excursion with the hotel’s culinary director, chef Nick Benninger.
Benninger will take you to several local farms, where you can learn about the produce grown in the region and talk with the farmers about their crops. Back at the hotel, continue your farm experience with a specially designed pre-fixe menu that incorporates ingredients from these local producers.
Mountain Adventures at Fairmont Chateau Whistler
In any season, the mountain town of Whistler offers plenty of adventures. When you stay at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Fairmont Chateau Whistler, a short stroll from both the ski runs of Whistler-Blackcomb and the shops and restaurants of Whistler Village, you can enjoy a variety of outings.
During the winter months, the Snowshoe & Fondue experience pairs a guided snowshoe walk with cheese and chocolate fondue at The Chalet, the hotel’s seasonal restaurant. Or opt for an evening of stargazing.
When the snow melts, take an Ancient Cedars Tour, a guided wander among Whistler’s oldest trees, with a picnic lunch included. Hop on an e-bike to explore three of the area’s scenic lakes; remember your bathing suit to cool off with a swim. Or let the Fairmont’s team create your own individual encounter — a unique way to see Whistler’s mountains, lakes and trails.
Explore Vancouver Island from The Magnolia Hotel & Spa
Near the Inner Harbour in Victoria, British Columbia, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Magnolia Hotel & Spa designed more than two dozen curated adventures to help guests get to know the city and its surroundings. Hotel staffers created walking maps that illustrate Victoria’s top attractions, neighborhoods, culinary trails and shopping routes. The guides even provide detailed advice on favorite places to eat, drink, shop and sightsee.
This year, the Magnolia team added the Infinite Coast Collection, three special itineraries for guests who’d like to see more of Vancouver Island. The Coast & Culture trail includes a historical tour of Victoria’s Inner Harbor with a First Nations guide, as well as a coastal tour exploring the varieties of seaweeds that live just offshore. The Sea to Summit trail takes you to the Malahat Skywalk for views across the region, hiking through old-growth rainforest and lunch in the charming seaside community of Cowichan Bay. For cyclists, the Coastal Bike Trail plots out a route to see the city and the harbor on two wheels.
